Measles alert at Asheville hotel after infectious traveler possibly exposed guests, NCDPH reportsASHEVILLE, N.C. —The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is warning anyone who visited an Asheville hotel that they may have come in contact with measles.NCDPH says anyone who was at the Holiday Inn Express at 435 Smokey Park Highway in Asheville on Aug. 26 from 1 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., may have been exposed to measles.Health officials say they were informed of the case from an out-of-state individual who traveled through the area while infectious.Officials report that the hotel is fully cooperating with health authorities to ensure guests and staff are aware of the potential exposure.Keep up with what’s happening around our area by downloading the WYFF News 4 app on the App Store or Google Play.Anyone who thinks they may have been exposed should monitor their symptoms until Sept. 16. If you develop any of the following symptoms, officials say to contact your local health department right away and stay home unless seeking medical care:High fever (may spike to more than 104 degrees) Cough Runny nose Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis) Tiny white spots on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of the mouth (Koplik spots) two to three days after symptoms begin A rash that is red, raised, blotchy, usually starts on face, spreads to trunk, arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin If you do believe you were exposed and need medical assistance, NCDPH advises you to call ahead to any doctor’s office or hospital so steps can be taken to prevent exposure to others.As of Thursday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 2,887 people as confirmed measles cases so far this year. Officials say this is the highest number of measles cases reported in the U.S. since the second dose of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine became widely used in the early 1990s. Note: The Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson Nielsen Designated Market Area (DMA) serves 28 counties across South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. It is the 36th largest media market in the country
